System and method for uniformly applying a wetting agent to a treatment surface

Abstract

A system and method for uniformly applying a wetting agent to a treatment surface. The method involves providing a reservoir for the wetting agent that is maintained at ambient pressure. The wetting agent is pumped away from the reservoir by an electrically driven suction pump to a nebulizing nozzle. A spray of droplets of the pumped wetting agent is created by passing through the nebulizing nozzle. The spray of droplets is uniformly applied to the treatment surface. In one embodiment, the wetting agent is a formwork fluid and the treatment surface is a concrete formwork. In another embodiment, the wetting agent is an asbestos dampener and the treatment surface is an asbestos containing material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for uniformly applying a wetting agent to a treatment surface, comprising the steps of:
 providing a reservoir for the wetting agent, wherein the reservoir is at ambient pressure; 
 providing a nebulizing pistol having a fluid chamber connected to a nebulizing nozzle, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
 continuously pumping the wetting agent from the reservoir to the fluid chamber using an electrically driven suction pump; 
 measuring a fluid pressure of the wetting agent in the fluid chamber; 
 maintaining the fluid pressure of the wetting agent in the fluid chamber generally constant during the step of continuously pumping the wetting agent; 
 creating a spray of droplets of the wetting agent from the nebulizing nozzle; and 
 applying the spray of droplets to the treatment surface in a pattern configured to uniformly coat the treatment surface with the wetting agent. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the electrically driven suction pump in response to the measured fluid pressure in the fluid chamber so as to create a target fluid pressure in the fluid chamber between 6 Bar and 15 Bar. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 2 , wherein the target fluid pressure is between 8 Bar and 12 Bar. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 3 , wherein the target fluid pressure is between 10 Bar and 12 Bar. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 4 , wherein the target fluid pressure is 11 Bar. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent comprises a formwork fluid and the treatment surface comprises a concrete formwork. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 6 , wherein the formwork fluid comprises a petroleum oil, an emulsion, a non-reactive coating with a volatile solvent, a wax, or a chemically active agent containing fatty acids. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent comprises an asbestos dampener and the treatment surface comprises an asbestos containing material. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 8 , wherein the asbestos dampener comprises a soap or detergent solution. 
     
     
       10. A process for uniformly applying a formwork fluid to a surface of a concrete formwork, comprising the steps of:
 providing a reservoir for the formwork fluid, wherein the reservoir is at ambient pressure; 
 providing a nebulizing pistol having a fluid chamber connected to a nebulizing nozzle, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
 continuously pumping the formwork fluid from the reservoir to the fluid chamber using an electrically driven suction pump; 
 measuring nozzle fluid pressure of the formwork fluid in the fluid chamber; 
 maintaining the fluid pressure of the formwork fluid in the fluid chamber generally constant during the step of continuously pumping the formwork fluid; 
 creating a spray of droplets of the formwork fluid from the nebulizing nozzle; and 
 applying the spray of droplets to the surface of the concrete formwork in a pattern configured to uniformly coat the surface with the formwork fluid. 
 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of adjusting the electrically driven suction pump in response to the measured fluid pressure in the fluid chamber so as to create a target fluid pressure in the fluid chamber between 6 Bar and 15 Bar. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 11 , wherein the target fluid pressure is between 8 Bar and 12 Bar. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 12 , wherein the target fluid pressure is between 10 Bar and 12 Bar. 
     
     
       14. The process of  claim 13 , wherein the target fluid pressure is 11 Bar. 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 10 , wherein the formwork fluid comprises a petroleum oil, an emulsion, a non-reactive coating with a volatile solvent, a wax, or a chemically active agent containing fatty acids. 
     
     
       16. A process for uniformly applying an asbestos dampener to a surface of an asbestos containing material, comprising the steps of:
 providing a reservoir for the asbestos dampener, wherein the reservoir is at ambient pressure; 
 providing a nebulizing pistol having a fluid chamber connected to a nebulizing nozzle, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir; 
 continuously pumping the asbestos dampener from the reservoir to the fluid chamber using an electrically driven suction pump; 
 measuring a fluid pressure of the asbestos dampener in the fluid chamber; 
 maintaining the fluid pressure of the asbestos dampener in the fluid chamber generally constant during the step of continuously pumping the asbestos dampener; 
 creating a spray of droplets of the asbestos dampener from the nebulizing nozzle; and 
 applying the spray of droplets to the surface of the asbestos containing material in a pattern configured to uniformly coat the surface with the asbestos dampener. 
 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of adjusting the electrically driven suction pump in response to the measured fluid pressure in the fluid chamber so as to create a target fluid pressure in the fluid chamber between 6 Bar and 15 Bar. 
     
     
       18. The process of  claim 17 , wherein the target fluid pressure is between 10 Bar and 12 Bar. 
     
     
       19. The process of  claim 18 , wherein the target fluid pressure is 11 Bar. 
     
     
       20. The process of  claim 16 , wherein the asbestos dampener comprises a soap or detergent solution.